‘Stranger Things’ star Dacre Montgomery details difficult acting journey in inspiring post

Dacre Montgomery, who shot to fame playing the notorious villain Billy Hargrove in the latest season of Stranger Things, has shared an emotional yet inspiring story about his difficult road to stardom.

On Monday (July 22), the breakout Aussie star took to Instagram to share a photo of himself as a child, along with a lengthy post about the struggles he’d faced while trying to pursue his acting dreams. Montgomery revealed that he had a “tough time in school” and “suffered from anxiety from a young age”.

• READ MORE: Stranger Things bosses might have given away a big secret about season 4

“When I was a kid, I was lost. I had a really tough time in school. I was a big kid who loved drama,” he wrote. “I never got passing grades, I wasn’t popular or a gifted sports player. Girls were never interested in me. I suffered from anxiety from a young age. I was distracted and I wasn’t focused.”

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When I was a kid, I was lost. I had a really tough time in school. I was a big kid who loved drama. I never got passing grades, I wasn’t popular or a gifted sports player. Girls were never interested in me. I suffered from anxiety from a young age. I was distracted and I wasn’t focused. But I had a dream, I was lucky – I knew what I wanted to do. And every night I went home and I focused on THAT. I visualised a future where my dreams became a reality. When I was 15 I failed my high school drama exams. When I was 16 I was told I needed to loose weight. When I was 17 I was told I should go to drama school and train. When I was 18 I was fired from my job. When I was in drama school I was told to leave. When I had a DREAM – I was told it wasn’t achievable. Well, you know what…. I lost weight, I went to drama school and I never stopped wanting it, I never stopped being curious. I never let the failures get me down. Because I believed in myself and I never let anyone tell me otherwise. You can do anything you set your mind to. So, go out there and get it!

A post shared by Dacre Montgomery (@dacremontgomery) on Jul 22, 2019 at 11:26am PDT

But despite the challenges, the actor decided to persevere. “I had a dream, I was lucky – I knew what I wanted to do. And every night I went home and I focused on that. I visualised a future where my dreams became a reality,” he added.

Montgomery then went on to list his numerous shortcomings over the years, from failing his high school drama exams to getting kicked out of drama school to getting fired from his job at 18. At one point, the actor said he was even told to lose weight.

“When I had a dream, I was told it wasn’t achievable. Well, you know what… I lost weight, I went to drama school and I never stopped wanting it, I never stopped being curious. I never let the failures get me down. Because I believed in myself and I never let anyone tell me otherwise,” the 24-year-old continued.

Montgomery concluded his message with heartfelt advice to those who are striving to achieve their goals by urging them to “not be afraid to fail”. “You can do anything you set your mind to. So, go out there and get it!” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the producers of Stranger Things have hinted at a possible fourth season, with rumours that filming will begin sometime later this autumn. However, it’s not yet confirmed if Montgomery will reprise his role as Billy after – spoilers – his character sacrificed himself to save Hawkins in the show’s season three finale.